Mining apparatus



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MINING APPARATUS Filed July 9. 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Illllll'lf" 1M i. 61 'fil-l Ill Il n "Ilmlpi Il" Sept. 28, 1943 s. w. LOVELY MINING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 oy im inw?. 6 a@ Il a//l/ Sept. 2s, 1943.

G.VM LOVELY MINING APPARATUS Filed July 9. 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 3660???? ZLoveZy gf A aff/M1,

Sept. 28, 1943. G. w. LOVELY 2,330,437

MINING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 /0 ma H4@ 3 2'/ lkw/1.

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'7 Sheets-Sheet '7 @ye wlovezy v /Ym Z? Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l `2,330,437 v j van Machinery Company,

l Massachusetts a corporation j'offj. K*

Application July s, 1941,- serial No. 401.691..

(c1. 2oz-29) I "26 Claims.

This invention relatesto. mining apparatus, and more particularly to `improvernents in korfI cutting apparatus for cutting plane kerfs in yfa coal seam of a coal mine.

An object of the present inventionv is to provide an improved coal mining apparatus. Another object isfto provide an improved kerf cutting 'apparatus having novel andV improved means for cutting plane kerfs Yin a coal Seamoa coal' minef Yet another object is to provide an improved lerf cuttingmeans .y for :a kerf cutting.-

appar'atus whereby kerfs may be cut in La coal seam in an improved manner, and having vassociated therewith improved adjustablesupport-.-i

ing means whereby the kerf cuttingmeans mayv be adjusted to out plane kerfs'in the coal-seam at diiierent elevations.

A. stillV further object is toxprovide' ari-.improved `A further object is- 'tor provide novel means iorcon-trolling the l"feelzlingi movement of the kerf cutting means land forV supporting and adjusting't-he kerf cutting means;l

. tus .constructed in' accordance with the illusl coal mining apparatus of the dual-kerf-outter type, having novel means 44.for supporting. actuating and adjusting the korf cutters. 'An'othero-irject istoprovidean improved-coal mining ap paratus of the 'dual-cutter-bar, 'straight-face type which is v.extremely compact, wellgbalanced and rugged in design, and which .alsofcomparta.-

'tively lsimple in construction; Still ianotl'ier,l ob` f ject is to provide a noveltiltable turntable structure for the kerf vcutting-means. v.A furtherobject is'to provide an improved coal cutting .apparatus having improved fluid :operated lmean-s,` for adjusting the'kerf; cutting means. AnotherV lob-lA ject is to provide .an extremely eicient and prao-fticalcoal cutting apparatus which is .cheap and. vsimple in construction. A 'still further object to provide a-n'ovel :coal -cuttingapparatus of. the `dual-bar. vtruck mounted. track guidedrtype 'Wit-h the cutter lbars so .arranged that the cutting strain'ston one bar .will be substantiallyfbalanced that the cutters of the vcutter' barsduringswing- Another `:object is: to provide an improved coal cutting apparatus'jhaving aufluitlv 'operated push rodgandflstop.engageable :with an extraneousl v:abutment suchwas the coal giace for controllingffeeding. movement of the fkeriV cuttings by those of .-.the'r` other bar; `and `so constructedmining-apparatuashowing the ker-f.cutters-aft,V

,- the. complet-ionof-fthe lateral swingingoperation means. vAiurtlier:object is to provideanimproved coalmining apparatus having :novel 'arrangements and combinations iai-parts.,.gfCDtlierv uses and advantages of` the invention will, however, hereinafter more fullygappear :as the description proceeds'. -1

invention may assume inpractice.

yin Vifi-iese drawings:I

Fig. 1 is a plan view-.sofa

coal min-ing appara-` trative'embodiment of the invention.y n Fig. 2 .is a. side-elevational View ofthe miningA appara-tusshown in Fig. 1.1 u

` Fig. 3 is a'planview, similar to parts -a diieren-tposition. .f

Fig. 4v is a iront elevationalv view of :the im provedmining apparatus. f K n Fig. -5 is a rearrjelevational view oi thelimprovediminng apparatus. n v

Fig. 6 .-isan enlarged view in longitudinal verticalsecti-on taken substantially-0n vline )6-6 of Fig. :1. 'Y l Fig. l, showing Fig..7fis arr-enlarged central, long-itudinally`LY y Fig. enlarged crosssectional view taken suhstantialiyon'linee-Rfof Fig.,lr. i i, Fig. 9is; an enlarged cross :sec-tionalview .taken substantialiy on line91-9-of,Fig.;1. j l Fig.. 10 isfafn" enlarged view i-n longitudinal veri tical Asection taken-substantially online lil-Ill;

of;.li!ig.-1. .y Y

=Fig. 11j` is-` a Idia gram-matic View oftheycoal mining apparatus..A showing vthe kerf cutters their snmpedposi-tion prior .tothe ylateral swingf ing operation. f

Fig.l lzfiiswafdi-agrarnmatic, view Aof the coalI n miningwapparatus, showing the kerfcutters during-theilatera-l-swingimg operationwhile:eiiecting afstraiglitfaceycut.- Fig. 13- `is `al diagrammatic-view of the coal and priorftothe Withdrawalfoperation.

Fig. 141s a-diagramniatic view of the coal min-v n ing apparatiis .showing :the vkorf VcuttersY at the' oompletionof-the withdrawalcutting operation.

.Figi lli-sa diagrammaticview showing thehy#V draulic system and control means. y fln this'ill-ustra-tive embodiment of lthe inven-v tion there ils'shown a coal mining apparatus of 'the track mounted, Vdual-keri-outter type, a1.- thoug-hgitwil'l beer/ident thatwariousfeatures ofthe invention may be incorporated in mining apparatus of various other types.

The coal mining apparatus shown generally comprises a portable `base I having mounted thereon a horizontal turntable 2 which supports a pair of identic tiltable supports 3, 3 by which dual kerf cutters 4, ll are respectively carried. Theportable base is herein in the form of a truck rame 5 mounted on wheels 6 adapted to travel along a mine trackway I laid on the mine floor. The turntable 2 is swivelled at 8 (Fig. 7) on a bearing supported by the truck frame, to turn horizontally relative to the truck frame." Ar-- ranged longitudinally of the truck frame, be-

truck frame is a motor I I having its powershaft' connectible through a clutchcontrolled plural' speed'transmission I2 to chain and sprocket con-1.` nections I3 for driving the truck 4wheels and to clutch controlled connections Ill `for driving a cable reel I5. Wound on the-cable reel-inuse will be a conventional power conductor cable'for supplying motive power to the Various motors 'ofl the apparatus, as will also be later described. Atl

the rear end of the truck frame is a conventional bumper I 6' and coupling means I 'I1'y Y The tiltable supports 3, 3, by 'which the kerfv cutters are carried, each' have mounted thereon a motor I 8 (Fig. 6) having its power shaft I9 vertically disposed and connectiblerby a conventional sliding clutch 2l) to a tubular shaft2i.

The shaft I9 is suitably journaledv withinthel upper part of a-housing- 22, andthe shaft 2I"is journaled on bearing sleeves supported by thev shaft I9, in the manner shown. Formed on the shaft 2| is a` chain sprocket 23 connected by an endless drive chain 24 to a chain sprocket 25 secured Yto a vertical shaft 26. The shafti`26 is herein arranged with its axis coincident with the pivotal axis of a horizontallys'win'gable cutter support or arm 21, and is .iournaled at its upper end within bearings supported by fthis'supporty Rotatable withl'and driven by 'the' sprocket- 25 is a sprocket 28 connectedbya'n ehdlessdrive chainA 29 to a sprocket-3Q keyed toaverti'cal' shaft '3| likewise journaled in bearings'supportedf bythe?- swin'gable cutter support or ar'r'n 2l. 4"I'heshaft 3l has 'splined telescopic engagement 'with a 'tubular shaft 32 journaled in a vertically adjustable hanger frame 33 by which a kerf cutteris carried.

Keyed to the lower end of the shaft'32 is-a chain' sprocket 34 which engages'a'nd drives arrl endless cutter chain 35 guided for circulation about the margin of an elongatedplanecutter barlv of a kerf cutter. The 'cutter baris rigidly` at-l tached at 3'Ifto a bracket Sintegralwith the hanger frame. It will thus be seen that when pressure is supplied to one .or `the other. of the hyl draulic cylinders 40, the sheaves may be moved to deflect one or the other of the pair of cables 131, thereby to turn the turntable about its swivel axis in one direction or the other, swinging there- A with the'kerf cutters.

As above mentioned, the supports 3, 3 are tiltable relative to the turntable to eiect independent tilting of the kerf cutters in endwise and edgewise directions, thereby to enable the cutters to 'f be properly leveled when the apparatus is operatthe clutches 20`areconnectdfthe.'cutterl chains f may bedriven by the,` motors I8,y and fwhen Vthe clutches are released the cutteichaingmayrei-iv main idle during 'runningofthe n iotorsl'-v Now referring to the swinging mean'sfor-the turntable 2, it will benotedthat 'arra'g'ed transversely of the truckv frame 'platformfrearwaifdly of vthe turntable is a pair ofk single-acting hydraulic cylinders l0-,VGH disposedin axial 'aline- The piston rods 42 of the Vpistonsv y journaled inv bearing s'leevessupported by upright` 65;-,-`

ing on an uneven iioor. The adjusting means for tilting these supports comprises, for each support, a rearwardly locatedV double-acting hydraulic jack 59 rigidly'secured to the turntable near the rearward edge of the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. Contained in this vertical cylinder is a reciprocable 'piston 5I having its piston rod 52 projectingupwardly and pivotally connected at l53 to a bracket 54. -This bracket extends :downwardly along one side of the cylinder and provides at 55 a pivotal mounting for the rear end of the tiltable support 3. This pivotal mounting is of the balland socket type to provide for universality in adjustment and isconnected by a bracket 56 tothe rear part of the tiltable support. Arranged towards the forward end of the tiltable support near the forward edge of the turntable is a doubleacting hydraulic jack comprising a vertical cylind-er B0 having at its lower end a universal pivotal connection at 6I with the turntable. Contained in this cylinder is a reciprocable piston E2 having its piston' rodi 63 projecting-'upwardly and connected through a conventional universal joint 64 with a bracket 65 secured tothe tiltable support 3.F The inner adjacentubottoms ofthe tiltable supports are connected through universalpivotal i mountings 56 with the turntable at points spaced inwardly with respect `to the `pivotal connection 6| for the frontjacks. When liquid under pressure is supplied to the rearjacks, the tiltable supports 3 maybe tilted on'transverse axes about the forward universal pivotal mountings 6I, 56, and whenV liquid under pressure is supplied to `the front-jacksthe supports may be tilted on longitudinal axes about the universal pivotal mountings 55 and 66. Concurrent supply at appropriate rates to the cylinders 50 and rwill enable tilting on'transverse axes extending through the pivot mountings E6 f By 'trapping the liquidj within the front and rear'jacksfthe tiltable supports `may be heldin theirdiierent positions of adjustment.

Again referring to the horizontally swingable supports or arms 21 for the `kerf cutters, it will be note'd that these supports or arms have de-V pending' cylindric bearing portions 69 suitably tubular bearing supports 'IIJ secured to the bottom portions of the tiltable supports 3. By the provision of theseipivotal mountings for the supports or arms 2l, the latter maybeswung horizontally relative to the `supports 3 about vertical axes coincident with the drive shafts 26! The swinging mean's for each of the supports 2'I-cornprises pairs cylinders 'II extendzlongitudinally in` parallelism along the inner adjacent sides-.of thesupports -3 and lrespectively Vcontain reciprocable Apistons 'I3` cylinders, the Vhanger frames and so the :kerf Y na-led on a bracket 80 secured to the turntable and projecting upwardly between the cylinders 1|, as shown in Fig. 9. Another cable 81| has its ends attached at 82 ,to, the outery `front sides rof theswingablesupports 2l :andfhas portions .guided by arcuate guide surfaces 83 on .the forward vends of the; supports 3. Portions oflthis cable pass around Vguide sheaves 84 respectivelyjournaled at f the outer sides of the supports 3,. and the intermediate portion of :the cable passes over guide sheaves 85 .journaled on brackets V86 carried by the piston rods 8l of reciprocable pistons `88 respectively contained in the pair of cylinders, 12.

' The sheave brackets 86, on which the sheaves 85 are journaled, are guided for .movement along longitudinal guide :members yBil --secured tov the supports 3. .Similar guide members are provided for the brackets Vfor the sheaves '15. .It is Aaccordingly evident that ywhen liquid under pressure is supplied to certain lones of the pairs .of cylinders :'H., T2 portions of thev cables IB and 8| are vcleiiected `to swing' the-supports or :arms V2l concurrently in opposite directions aboutftheir vpivots relative -t'o the supports 3, thereby to swing the korf cutters concurrently outwardly .relative to one another. When the 'others .of the pairs of .cylinders are operated, the supports are swung vto .move the kerf cut-ters Aconcurrently inwardly toward one another. By trapping the liquid Within the-cylinders the supports may be held in their adjusted position, thereby to hold the kerf cutters against swinging movement about their pivotalraxes. To -prevent interference between the cables when the 4ti-ltable supports 3 are raised at .their .outeredgea Ahold-down sheaves 89 (Figs. 1 and '7) may .be provided overlying the cable 8| at the portions thereof near the inner edges of the supports 3, 3. l

As previously mentioned., the cutter hanger frames 33 Vare adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the horizontally swingable supports '1.27, .and suitable upright guideways on theisupports receive guides on the .hanger'frames to guide the latter during their adjustment. The

adjusting means for the hanger .frames each VA cable lr6 attached at endsv v a vertically disposed reciprocable cylinder 9B secured to the rearward part vof the hanger frame and. containing a piston 9| having its piston rod yd2 projecting upwardly and secured at.93 to a support 21. Secured to the forward partof each support 21 is a single-acting jack having a vertical cylinder 94 containing Aafireciprocahle piston 95 having its piston rod Sflnsecured at 9.1to a bracket 9B rigidly attached to a hanger frame.

This bracket projects through a vertical slot 99 i in the depending front frame portion ofvjthe support, so that the'bracket may move up or `dovvn l with respect to the support during'hanger frame cutters :may be held :in adjusted position.

The :duid operated push rod and stop "9 comprises a horizontal, longitudinally disposed hydraulic cylinder 1400 secured to the' truck frame (fig. 57,). and :containing :a reciprocable. piston ..*|0:| havinga tubular piston rod:v |||2pro1 jecting forwardly from the iront. end of the cylinder. .Reciprocable rwithin the boreV |03 of the piston rod is a piston |114 having a Vplungerlike Apiston rod `|05 projecting outwardly from the lcylinder .in aY forward direction a substantial distance in advance .of the truck. The front endof the .piston rod |415 has a feront end abutment surface |08 engageab'le Withzan extraneous abutment, suchas the coal face.v The piston rod bore "|63 has ccnstanticommunication with the cylinder bore through an Iaxial passage L01.. These cylinders and pistons thus cooperate to provide a double telescopic hydraulic .ram whichis engagea-ble with the coal face to control .the

feeding movement of .the kerf cutters during certain flrerf` cutting operations. l' Nowreferring ,to the hydraulic system for supplying liquid under pressure to the various hydraulic cylinders of the apparatus, it will :be noted that arranged lat the 'rear endsof the tiltable supports-3 are liquidtanks |03 containing conventional hydraulic pumps |69 driven by motors |10. These pumps have theirv intakes submerged'in the liquid in the tanks and have 'their discharge sides connected by con-- duits ||.2 to a supply conduit`||3 in turn connectedto the supply passage of a conventional valve box, lgenerally designated l I4. This valve box is `.preferably mounted on vthe rear end-of the truck frame platform I!) and has its vertical valve bores (not shown) containing conventional rotary -controlyalves |15, '||6, |17, H8, |19,

|28, |21, |22, |23 and |24 cach provided with a suitable Acontrol handle. The `discharge pas-A sage of the valve 'box is connected by a discharge conduit |25 backto the tanks W8. The

valve H25 controls the Tlovv -of liquid under pre's-v sure to the front jack cylinder '69 forone of the tiltab-le supports 3', and conduits ,|26 and 2'1 connect the .opposite ends of the 4cylinder 60 With the' valve'. receiving bore. l'Thevalve |'||`r controls the flow-'oi 'liquid under pressure'to the opposite ends o'f the rear jack cylinder 50 lfor this same support, andconduits |23 and v|29 c onnect the cylinder vends with the valve receiving bore. rjIhe valve IH .controls the ow ofliquid under pressure to the turntable rotating cylinliquid under pressure to the hydraulic push and stop'ramS, `and a conduit '|32 connects the valve receiving bore with the rear end of the cylinder |00. T-he valve 'Iii-9Vv controls the flow of liquid under pressure to the swinging cylinders12 for the cut'tersupports' 21, While the valve |20 coritrol's the flow 4of liquid under pressure to the swinging cylinders ll for these cutter supports,

and the valve receiving bores are respectively q lconnected through conduits |33 vand |34 to the cylinders. The valve |-2`I controls the'flovv of 'liquid `under pressure to the rear jack cylinder 5G 'for the other ytilta'ble support 3, and has its valve receiving Ibore connected through conduits E35 and 135 to the opposite ends ofthe cylinder.v

The valve |222` controls the flow of liquid under pressure to the front jack 4cylinder v6|) for this same supportand has its valve receivingbore connected through conduits `|31 and |38 to the opposite ends of thejack cylinder. The valves |23 and 24 control the iiow of liquid under pressure to the jaclrcylinders 90 and 94 for the adjustable cutter hanger frames 33 and have' their valve receiving bores respectively con- `nectedthrough conduits |39 andY |150 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 99 `vand S4 for one cutter hanger frame and through conduits |4|, |42 to the cylinders for the other cutter hanger frame. If desired, stop valves may be arranged in any branch lines to enable some independence of control of fluid through the different branches. The valve devices are adapted to control supply and venting of liquid, and` to trap liquid whendesired. I

`The truck propelling motor is provided with a conventional control box |44 preferably arranged on the truck frame platform rearwardly of the turntable, while the motors I8 and I0 have similar control boxes |45, |45 preferably arranged at the rear end of the tiltable supports 3, 3, respectively, and the usual power conductor cable (not shown) on the reel I5 is suitably connected to these control boxes. The apparatus may 'be equipped with indicators. such as conventional indicator dials and pointers, to show when the kerf cutters are parallel and to give their angular distance apart so that the right width of cut maybe easily determined by the operator. Also, a conventional hand brake llt may be provided for braking the truckwheels, and a hand brake lever |41 is conveniently located near the operators seat |48 on the truck frame platform. The valve box ld and the control box |44 are also `conveniently `located near the operators seat. c

The general mode of operation of the improved coal mining apparatus is as follows. The apparatus Vmay be propelled rapidly about the mine under the propulsion of the motor l through the high speed truck wheel driving means, and as the apparatus travels through the sharply curved passages of a mine the dual kerf cutters ll, ll may be `swung in unison horizontally to one side or the other of the truck simply by rotating the turntable 2, thereby to facilitate passage of the apparatus through the curved mine passages. When the working face of a coal seam is reached, the dual kerf cutters Ll, l may be disposed in parallelism lengthwise of the truck frame with their outer tip ends in adjacency to the coal face. The cutter driving motors |8, I8 are then started, and when the cutter drive clutches 2U are connected the cutter chains are rapidly circulated in opposite directions about the margin of the cutter bars. The apparatus is then-propelled forwardly along the mine trackway at a relatively low cuttingspeed to effect surnping of the kerf cutters in an endwise direction into the coal seam. The abutment surface of the push rod of the hydraulic ram 9 may at this vtirne be engaged with the coal face. Due to the arrangement `of the kerf cutters in close proximity andthe direction of circulation of the cutter chains, the cuttingaction of the cutters on the coal during swinging of the cutters serves to aid the truck propelling means inv the forward movement of the apparatus toward the coal face, thereby, to a substantial @X-` tent, to relieve the trackway of strains during the cutting operation. By so utilizing the cutters as a supplemental feed for the apparatus it is possible under most conditions to do away with auxiliary feed devices such as feed ropes, jacks or the like. The hydraulic ram then engaging the coalface may serve as a stop to control the depth of the sumping cut by its engagement with the coal face. When the sumping cut is completed and the kerf cutters have assumed the position shown in Fig. 11, truck wheel propulsion is interrupted and the hand brake is set. The hydraulic cylinders 12 of the` cutter swinging means may then be'cperated to eiect lateral swinging movement of the kerf cutters concurrently outwardly away from one another, as shown in Fig. 12. During the lateral swinging operation the hydraulic ram 9 which abuts the coal face may be operated to act in opposition to the propelling means to control the movement of the apparatus forwardly along the trackway as the kerf cutters swing laterally, so that a straight face may be cut in the coal face, in an obvious manner and, `under those circumstances, the brake is, of course, released. When the lateral swinging cut has been completed and the kerf cutters have assumed the position sho-wn in Fig. 13, operation of the Swinging cylinders 12 is interrupted and the liquid is trapped in these cylinders to hold the kerf cutters in position. The

hand brake, if applied, is then vreleased and the low speed truck wheel propelling means is operated to eifect rearward movement of the apparatus along the trackway` to withdraw the kerf cutters from the coal, thereby to complete the cut. Instead of using the truck propelling means t0 move the apparatus rearwardly along lthe trackway at a low cutting speed during the withdrawal operation, rearward movement of the apparatus may be effected by the hydraulic ram 9 under hydraulic control. When the kerf cutters are in their withdrawn position shown in Fig. 14, the operator may effect operation of the cutter swinging cylinders 1| to swing the kerf cutters inwardly toward one another until they again assume the parallel position shown in Fig. 11. During the kerf cutting'operation the cutter supports 3, 3 may be tilted with respect to the horizontal about transverse and longitudinal axes to effect endwise and edgewise tilting movements of the kerf cutters, thereby to enable theA latter to be leveled up when the apparatus is operating on an uneven floor simply by operating the hydraulic jacks 50 and ED. The kerf cutters may be adjusted into different elevated positions with respect to the mine floor by operating the hydraulic jacks S0 and 94 to raise or lower the cutter hanger frames 33 along their guideways relative to the swingable supports 21. If desired, sumping of the kerf cutters may be eifected by using the high speed truck propelling means under the control of the hydraulic ram 9 by inserting a jack or post, or somesimilar extension, between the plunger |05 and the coal face, and after the cutters have been sumped into the coal, movement of the apparatus forwardly along the trackway during straight face cutting may,` under. certain conditions, be effected solely bythe action of the cutters on the coal during lateral swinging of the cutters. Other modes of use and advantages of the improved coal mining apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shownlfor purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modied andlembodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope `of -the appended claims.

` from the Working face of a coal seam/comprisiing, in combination', propelling, means,- coal. mining devices, meansA for operating said propelling means and said mining devices,and' fluidV actu'- ated` means engageable with the coali face .Zand acting in opposition to said propelling `means for controlling movement of the apparatus" by said 'propelling means with respect to the coal face.

- ,13. A mining apparatuscomprising; in combination, `Va portablei base, a pair of cooperating, oppositely acting cutting devices pivotally mount'- for eifecting movement ofthe apparatus from the Working face. y l

8. Ina mining apparatus, ythe combination comprising a'portable base movableA toward and from the' working faceofacoal seam, cutting devices mounted on saidfbase and havingcutters so constructed and arranged` as to ei-feet move-` ment of the apparatus toward the Working face bythe cuttingaction of the cutters onthe coal,

away

andy extensible uid actuated rmeans engageablel withgtlieriworking facet; and controllable at will for, controlling such movement ofthe apparatus toward' the wor-llingface.` j. A `9. Inna' mining apparatus, the combination comprising `a portable base, a turntable on saidy base, supports mounted on: said 'turntable tov tilt ina plurality ofi directions with respect thereto,

means for, tilting isaidasupports and for holding them. in their;I diiere'nt;tilted; positions, and' kerf cutters, one carried? by eaclr of said tiltable supports. i y

ed on said base to swing' horizontally'rel'ative thereto, means foractuatingy said cutting tlevices,-

f means for swinging said cutting devicesgfmeans lfor moving said base relative. toA the workingv face to eiect feed of said cutting devices, and meansengageable with an extraneous abutment' and controllable at will orcontrolling' the movement of the apparatus by said base-'moving means withrespect to the working face, saidfabutrnent-enJ gaging means actingin opposition to said' basemoving means. f i* j 4. A mining apparatus comprising,y in "combination,V a portable base, a pair of cooperating,l

oppositely acting cutting devicespivotally mount` ed on said base to swing horizontally relative thereto, means for actuating said' cutting `devices;

means for swinging said cutting 'devicesgsaid cutting devices being so constructed 'and arranged as to eiiect movementA ofjthe apparatus vtoward the Work by the cuttingaction of the cutting devices on "the coal during swinging ofsaidQde-j vices, and means engageable with anextrane'ous; abutmentand controllable atY will for controlling themovement of the 'apparatus bysaidcuttingf devices toward the working face, said abut menteA engaging means acting in'opposition to movement of the apparatustowardvthe Workingv face.

-5.In a mining apparatus, thecombination comprising'a portable base, a turntable onsaid' base, a pair of tiltable supports mounted on turntable at the opposite sides thereof, and co operating kerf cutters carried by said tiltable 'sup'-V ports respectively.v

6. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base movable toward-and from the working face of a coal seam, cutting devices mounted on said base and having cutters so constructed and arranged as to effect movement of the apparatus toward the working face by the cutting action of the cutters on the` coal, and' means engageable with the working face and controllable at will for controlling such movement of the apparatus toward the working face.

7. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base movable toward and from the working face of a coal seam, cutting devices mounted on said base and having cutters so constructed and arranged as to eiect movement of the apparatus toward the working face by the cuttingaction of the cutters on the coal, and means engageable with the working face and l0; `In a i .mining apparatus', the combination comprising a portable base, a pair'oicooperating,

independently operable cutting `devices on said-` base, lmeans for .independently operating said'` cutting devices including ,fseparatemotor operated connectionsf-or each` cutting device,and means forY movingsaidv cutting devices `toward and: from eachother and independently relativej to each other, said.y cutting devices being movable,

concurrently toward eachother into substantial parallelism so' that-the'cuts made thereby 'are ksub-A longitudinal center off the apparatus.

A11. In; a mining apparatus,-`the coinbii'iationv comprisingaif'portable base, ati-irritable onsaid base, tiiltabl'e'supportsinounted on? said turntable,

stantia-lly joined at a vertical 'plane lying fin the a 'pairv "cooperatingcutting devices carried by' said tiltable supports respectively, and means for'separately'adjustingsaid cutting devices so that 'oeoi saidlcutting devices ymay be adjusted Witholut'"disturbingthe other one. r

-'I'nz a" mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base; supports ind'r-zp'enol en'tly t'iltablymounted in sideiby sidev relation at* substantially the same elevation at the opposite sid'esioff 'sa dba'se; 'andfcooperating kerf cutters carried -byfsaidtiltablesupports respectivel'y:andl

tiltableindependentlytherewith;

` 13."Ina` mining apparatusthe combination comprising al portable base, a turntable on said base; supports tiltablyv mounted on said turn table" at' Atheoppositeisi'des thereof, arms lpi'vetala` ly mounted: on saidV supportsv respectively' tof swing relative thereto, and cooperating'keri cutters car-*-4 ried by Isaid arms respectively. 14. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, cutting devices carried b y said base and movable with the latter to- Ward and from the work, and means mounted on said base and having abutting engagement with v the face of the Work for controlling movement of said cutting devices `toward and from the work `during the cutting operation, said movementcontrolling-means acting in opposition to the movement of the base toward the work.

l5. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, a pair of cooperat-r ing cutting devices pivotally mounted on said base to swing in common planes toward and from one another, and means for independently tilting said cutting devices to move the latter intorelatively inclined planes.

controllable at will for controlling such movement v of` the, apparatusl toward the working face and 16. In a mining' apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, a pair of kerf cutters pivotally mounted on said base to swing toward and from one another in common planes about parallel axes, and means for independently tilting said kerf cutters relatively to move the same out of said common planes.

17. In a mining apparatus, coal mining devices, propelling means for eiecting movement for said mining devices with respect to the work, means for operating said mining devices and said propelling means, and means extending `forwardly lengthwise of the apparatus and engageable with an extraneous abutment in advance of the apparatus, said abutment engaging means acting in opposition to said propelling means for controlling movement` of said mining devices with respect to the work.

18. In a mining apparatus, coal mining devices, propelling means for eilecting movement for said mining devices with respect to the work, means for operating said mining devices and said propelling means, and fluid operated reoiprocable means extending forwardly lengthwise of the apparatus and engageable with an extraneous abut-` ment in advance of the apparatus, said fluid operated means acting in opposition toA said propelling means for controlling movement of said mining devices with respect to the work.

19. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, a support mounted on said base to rotate about an upright axis, a pair of adjustable supports mounted on said rotatable support at the opposite sides thereof for adjustment relative thereto and projecting hori-` zontally beyond the forward side of said rotatable support, and cooperating kerf cutters carried by said adjustable supports respectively-in advanceof said rotatable support and adjustable with said.

adjustable supports into differentl cutting positions. i

20. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, a support mounted on said base to rotate relative thereto about anV respectively and adjustable therewith into diier-Y ent cutting positions.

21. In a mining apparatus, the com-bination comprising a portable base, a support mounted on said base to rotate about an upright axis, supports adjustably mounted on said rotatable support at the opposite sides of the latter, arms piv-Y otally mounted on said adjustable supports re- 'spectively to swing relative thereto and overlying said rotatable support, 'and cooperating kerf cutters carried by said arms respectively in advance of said rotatable support.

22. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, a support mounted on said baseto rotate aboutan upright axis, supports adjustably mounted on said rotatable support at the opposite sides of the latter, arms pivotallymounted on said adjustable supports respectively to swing relative thereto and overlying said rotatable support, cooperating kerf cutters carried by said arms'respectively in advance of said rotatable` support, and means for swinging said arms about their pivots yrelative to said adjustable supports to move said kerf cutters tcward and from one another.

23. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, supports mounted in side by side relation at the oppositef sides of said base, said supports being independently tiltable relative to said base, and cooperating kerf cutters carried by said tiltable supports respectively and independently tiltable therewith into different angularly related. cutting positions.

.24. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a portable base, supports mounted in side by side relation on said base to tilt in a plurality ojfmangularly related directions with respect thereto, means for tilting said supports and holding them in their different tilted positions, and kerf cutters, one carried by each of said tiltable supports and tiltable therewith into different angularly related cutting positions.

25. A mining apparatus movable toward and from a working face of a coal seam comprising, in combination, propelling means, coal mining devices, means for operating said propelling means gageable with thel workingface and acting in opposition to said propelling means for controlling movementof the' apparatus by said propelling means toward the working face. A

26. A mining apparatus movable. toward and from a Working face of a coal seam comprising,

in combination, propelling rn'eans,coal` mining devices, 'means for operating said propelling means and said mining devices, a hydraulic ram engageable with the working face and acting in operable independently of said propelling means for moving theapparatus away from the working face.

` GEORGE WQLOVELY. 

